alexander



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. P. ALEXANDER.

y AUTOMATIC SWITCH. No. 576,082.

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J. P. ALEXANDER.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH. No. 576,082. Patented Feb. 2, 1897.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. P. ALEXANDER.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

N0. 576,082. Patented Feb. 2, 1897.

a Noam: msn: co.. Memummjwwma (No Moden.) 5 sneets-sheef 4.

' J. P. ALEXANDER. Y

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

No. 576,082. vPatented Feb. 2, 1897".

M2M. www

(No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 5. J,.P. ALEXANDER.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

No. 576,082. Patented Feb, 2, 1897,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN P. ALEXANDER, OE JACKSON, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY IV.

MCCORRY, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,082, dated February 2, 1897'.

Application filed May 29, l

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN P. ALEXANDER, a citizen ot' the United States, residing at J ackson, in the county of Madison and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Switches, ot' which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanyin drawings and to the letters and iigure's ol reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements in methods of and apparatus for distributing current to sectional, separate, or disconnected circuits; and it comprises, broadly, an automatic switch for controlling the supply of current to the separate circuits or sections of a circuit.

The switch as usually constructed is arranged within a box through which a circuit passes, which circuit includes one or more oi' the boxes used in the system to which the invention is applied. rlhe current may enter the box through a circuit especially designed for the operation of the box or boxes, or it may be the main suppl y-circuit itself. lith whichever arrangement is adopted the circuit on entering the box divides and traverses the same in two equal branches which unite at or near the point where they issue from the box, passing thence back to the source of current or to the succeeding boX or boxes in the series. Ina bridge between the balanced conductors of the switch-box are arranged circuit-controlling devices in the nature of automatic switches, which are thrown into operation by the unbalancing of the main switchbox circuit, which may be accon1- plished by automatic mechanical means or by the simple pushing 'of a button connected with a circuit-breaker to momentarily interrupt one side of the balanced circuit of the box, the effect ot which will be to shunt current through the bridge-wire in the circuit of which the switch devices are included. This actionv closes connections between the main supply-conductor and the circuit or circuits to be supplied with current, and these branch circuits are kept closed by the automatic electric switching apparatus contained in the 5o Abox so long as sufcient current flows through the branch circuits to keep the electromagnels which control them energized. When 896. Serial No. 593,644. (No modela the llow of current in the circuits controlled by the box ceases, the switching devices automatically open the circuit. and the current passes through the box by way of the balanced circuit without affecting the said switching devices until the balance ofthe circuit shall be again interrupted.

It will be obvious that this invention has a wide range of applicability, and it is herein claimed in the broadest sense. It is, however, hereinafter set forth in connection with an electric-railway system, the same furnishing one of its most desirable uses. In carrying out this embodiment of my invention I provide main current-supplying conductors, which may be placed in any convenient position above or below the surface. These conductors convey the current from the source, and my invention relates especially to the means provided for establishing connection between the main supply-conductors andthe sectional working conductors, which are those from which the traveling contact devices ofthe electric-railway motor-cars collect the current to operate the motors upon said cars.

A series of automatic switch -boxes are placed at intervals along the line of the railway and serve t-o connect the main supplyconductor with the several sections of the sectional working conductor or with groups of discontinuous working contacts arranged at the surface and along the line of way by connections which for convenience will be hereinafter referred to as feeder connections. In some instances, as where the line is comparatively short or the travel light, the main supply-conductor passes through the switchboxes in series and is connected in multiple are to the feeder connections by the means provided in each box. In other instances the main supply-cond uctor is carried in the vicinity of the boxes and connected to certain points therein, so that it may be. connected with the feeder connections by the mechanism ot the box, said mechanism itself being automatically operated by a separate circuit, including the boxes in series, and separately supplied with current for that purpose. IVith either arrangement the conductor which traverses the switch-boxes is divided at the point of entry and where it leaves each box and IOO traverses the same by two conductors, the resistance ot'which is substantially equal. rl`he automatic switehingdeviees are connected in a bridge across the divided circuit ol the box, i

b v a car, so as to maintain the connections during the time the current is being taken from the live section ot working conductor.

The balanced circuit normally traversing the switch-boxes in series without att'ecting the switching devices therein is interrupted by mechanical means upon the entrz'ineeot' a car to the section controlled by the bex, and this may be arranged so that; in a single-track line the box will be operated and current sup plied to the section in advance in whichever direction the car may be moved; or, as Vin a double-track line, the arrangement may be such that the box will make connection only with the section ot conductor on one side thereol, so that the ear will only energize the section in ad vanee ol it when traveling in one direction. \Vhen, however, the ear has left said section and current is no longer taken, the feeder-circuit ot' the box will be automatically open and the current will tlow through the divided circuit until the same is again disturbed and the switching devices called into operation.

My invention also includes means for earrying the same into etteet, sneh as hereinafter set forth, and shown in thc accompanying drawings, together with other details which will be referred to in the claims.

In said drawings, Figure l is a transverse sectional elevation of an underground-conduit electric railway, showing` the switch-box also in elevation and on an enlarged scale, with portions ol' the circuits in diagrani. Fig. 2 is a (fliagrammatic view showingportions ot' an electric railway, with the switch-boxes in diagram and the manual operating` devices in elevation. Fig. i2 is an enlarged diagran'n matie view oli' a portion olf Fig. L. Fig. il is a plan viewpartlyot' whatis shown in Figui?, also partly in diagram. Fig. -l is a view' in elevation illustrating my invention as applied to the overhead system, with a portion ot' the switch-box and conductors in diagram. Y :3 is a side elevation ol' the switch-box, partly in section. Fig. t is a plan view ot the switchbox. Fig. 7 shows a term of magnetic circuitbreaking device in enlarged sectional elevation. Figs. S and t) are eiilargcd sectional; views ot' track-contacts. Fig. S is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a it'orm of the traveling contact device tor a surfacecontact system.

Fig. l

JIU,

In the (lrawings, A, Fig. l, is an undergrount'l eonduitti'oran elect rie-railwaysystem. l and, (l are the positive and negative conductors thereof, which, as shown, are supported by rods t] aud. C', extending upward and. sustained in suitable insulators th.

il' are the sht-rails, between which civ tends the plow C. rlo the plow are hinged colltaet-carrying arms l" ll", which are provided with outwardly-pressing springs. An extension 'tfJ extends downward and is adapt ed to engage a lnojection orcranh `tot' the rocket arm 1.),which is rotatably mounted at: ross the conduit A and maybe yn'ovidet'l with a counterweight e or other device .tor assisting its return to its normal position.

As indicated at the lett side ot Fig. it, ,lll is the contactsboiv. land 2 indicate, rcspccs tively, the ingoing and outgoing portions ol.' the main stu u)lyeonductor connected with the box E i'or supplying the current to the positive werkingconductor13 in the etmt'luit. The return-conductor is vindicated at 23, and is connected to the conductor C or to the rails, or to both.

F G are two eleetromagnets, each provided with a pivoted armature fg, which are nor- 1n ally spring-held away from the poles thereot".

F' W G G2 are separated frontactdiloelis adapted to be bridget'l by contact-pieces j" q, carried by the armaturesfg, as indicated in Fig. t), when the same are drawndownward by their cores F G.

The magnets F G are each ln'ovided with two separate windings marked t 5 on each7 the winding -l being' connected in the ln'idge be tween h and hf, while the winding 5 forms part et the branch or feeder connections and is secondary in its action and serves to maintain the magnetitnnV ot.' one or other ot the "magnets F G to hold the desired contacts and maintain the circuit through the boxv while current is being supplied to the sectioli controlled by the active magnet.

rlhe main supply-coliduetor l on entering the box E divides at ll and passes thence 'by conductors ti and T, which traverse the box. and unite at the point H, passing thence b v conductor 2 to the next box. The total nor mal resistance et the conductors t3 and 7 is equal, and therefore when the box not in use the current will divide and pass equally thronghsaidconductors. lwocircuit-breakers I J are provided in the conductor 7, and, as indicated, these circuit-breal ers are respectively near opposite ends ol' the box. The outside windings al ot' the magnets F (t are connected in multiple arc between the conductors t3 and T, said connections extending li'rom the point 7L on conductor ti to the point 7L on conductor 7.

The rocleshatt l) is providet'l with tappets d d', oneotwhich operates the circnit-brealnr J when the shaft is rotated in one t'lirection, the other one, d', acting upon the circuitVA breakerl when the said shaft is recited in the opposite directitiin, so that .it the plow (tt IOO attached to the motor-car be traveling in one direction its extension h2 will strike the crank b3 from one side and rotate the rock-shaft in one direction, whereas if it is traveling in the opposite direction the reverse action will take place. The openin g of the circuit oi' the conductor 7 by this means is but momentary, the parts being restored to their normal positions by the action of the counterweight a or any equivalent device. When one of the circuit-breakers is operated to open the circuit, as, for example, at I, Fig. l, the balance previously existing between the conductors G and 7 will be momentarily destroyed and current will flow from the point ll through the winding 4t of the magnet F to the point h on the conductor 7, and thence out by way of conductor 7, circuit-breaker d, and point Il. This will energize said magnet and draw down the armature f on the contact-blocks F F2. The second winding 5 upon the magnet F is connected by conductor S with the point H to the main supply-circuit, its other extremity being connected to the contact-block F. Conductor 9 is connected to the opposite block F2 and extends thence to the working conductor B. From this it will appear that the momentary opening of the circuit-breaker caused by the striking ofthe rock-shaft mechanism by the extension carried by the car will disturb the balance of the box and divert current across the bridge between the divided conductor traversing the box. This momentarily-diverted currentpasses through a winding which energizes the magnet,drawin g down its armature and closing the feeder-circuit exten din g from the main supply-conclu ctor to the working conductor of the railway. It will be apparent that this supply of current will continue so long as the magnet F is energized, and this will be the case so long as current is consumed by the car. The adjoining section of working conductor is similarly supplied through the magnet G and contacts G G2 and conductor l0, only a portion of which is shown in Figs. l. and 5, and in said figures the armature g is seen in inoperative position on the assumption that no current is being used in the section of working conductor supplied by conductor l0 and that the momentary energy im parted to said magnet G by the opening of the circuit-breaker I has passed and that the spring has raised the armature away from the contacts G G2.

The car-motor is indicated at M, while m is a switch-lever which is connected with the plow and receives the main current, directing it either through the motor M or through a suitable resistance m also carried by the car, so that sufficient current will be passed through the energized section of workin g conductor to keep the magnet in the switchbox alive and maintain the contacts through which the section is supplied with current until the car has let't that section.

The arm atures fg should be faced with some material of low induction coefii cient or an airgap should be provided for in order to preven t stickin The circuits of the box are arranged so that as much current as is needed to draw down' the armatures is shunted through the magnet or magnets, which are of single or double construction, in order to make the necessary decrease in resistance to secure the desired proportion of current.

As indicated in Figs. 5 and G, two separato rock-shafts D D2 are provided, extending on opposite sides of the box, so that in the caso of a double-track railway one of said rockshatts may be operated by the car on one track and the other by the car on the other track. Vihen so used, however, the switch devices of the box will be operated only by a car passing always in the same direction, and it will therefore constitute a block to a car running backward, or from the wrong direction, and this I consider an important feature, although of course a double-acting box may be provided for each track where preferred.

The circuit-breakers I J, Figs. 5 and G, each comprise springs t' i', secured at one end of the frame of the box E and extending outward parallel to each other and provided at their free ends with contact-piecesj j", of carbon or other conducting material. A stationary block ft2 is attached to the frame of the box and is held in position for the blocks jj to normally press against and complete the circuit. The rock-shafts D D are provided with upwardly-extending insulated arms d2 cl3, which iit in between the lower portions of the contacts j j. Vhen either of the rock-shafts is moved, its arm will press in one direction or the other against one of the blocksj or j and force it away from and out of contact withits station ary block, thereby openin g the circuit. The counterweight will restore the rock-shaft to its normal position, and the resiliency of the springs t" will insure their contacts being brought up against the stationary blocks when the rock-shafts assume their normal position.

The springs t' t" are connected to the points H H by conductors 7L 7b.

Fig. 2a shows in diagram substantially that which has j ust been described. In said figure the bridge-conductors, that is to say, the circuit between the points 7L h', are indicated as of lower resistance and greater current-carrying capacity than the conductors t3 7, between which they are connected. It therefore follows that when the divided and balanced circuit represented by the conductors 6 7 is interrupted or its balance disturbed the current will flow through the bridge spanning said conductors, and although the circuits of conductors G 7 may be completed momentarily thereafter the [low of current having once been established through the bridge-circuit, which at'iords a path of lower resistance, it will continue for an appreciable time, during which the switch mechanism becomes energized and establishes a feeder-circuit connected with the section onto which the con- IOO IIO

tact is passing. 'lhe ilew ot current therethrough and through the coils el the switchmagnets will maintain the connections ii i. said bridge-cireuit until the consumption ol current in the section supplied thereby ceases, when the switch-magnets will be cut out by the action o't niechanical devices provided t'or that purpose. Z indicates a source ol' current which is connected to the conductor l, entering the bex, and thc conductor i), lissuing therefrom, is in turn connected te the conductor l et the next box, and so on throughout the series.

rlhc circuits in Fig. il are as follows: itrom the source of current l into box l, thence normally through conductors tl 7 and out by conductor 2, which is connected to conductor l et the next box. The balanced conductors t5 7 are spanned bythe bridgc-wireslI 4, which extend. between the points 7L 7L and include the cores el the electromagnets li G. The cores F G also carry windings 5, which are connected with the contacts F G and with the sections to be supplied respectively thereby, one en each side of the bex.

As shown in the drawings, the contact derice L3 is receiving current 'from the section supplied through the coils 5 et the box which said contact has just passed, as indicated by the arrow, and will continue to be so supplied until the switch mechanism ot' the box in advance et it has been energized, and so en. ln case no cars are in operation it might be well to provide a resistance .2' somewhere in the return-circuit tor purposes of current regulation.

'When the balanced circuit is interrupted by the passage of the contact device, both magnets F and GV will be temporarily energized, but the current will continue to Vllow only through the winding` 5 of the magnet controlling lthe section from which current is being taken, the other magnet being immediatelydemagnetized by the cessation el? eurrents in the bridge-conductors Li et, d ue to the restablishment et' the balanced circuits, which then carry whatever current is not at the time passing into the t'eeder circuit through conductor 8, armature j", contact '11", winding 5, and conductor l).

K2 represent the sections otl the werking conductor connected with the switchesI and which are successively engaged by the centact L3, which is connected with the switch in, and the meter-circuit, as described.

As indicated in Figs. 2 and i), the working current is collected by a different method.. As there shown, isolated contacts K are lecated just above the surface ot' the center of the track, and the eireuit-breakin g apparatus is arranged below one of the rails, so as to be operated by one of the wheels el' the vehicle. The circuit-breaking apparatus may cemprise a piveted lever D2", situated in a suitable sunken boxer casing and provided with an upwardly-extended head D, projecting normally inte the path ot the flanges ot the wheels of. the car. lhis lever may be prf vided with a ret-racting-spring Dl and also with a eotmterweight a, it' desired. An extension di actuales the circnit-ln'ealtcr di, which opens and closes the conductor T. lilith thisarrangement; a number et separate coi'itaets lt are connected with the sulnilyconductors tl and ll ot' Vthe box. lli, and. the current may be collected by slitling shoes 'L L, which are electrically connected. Any desired number ot the contacts .li may he connected with a supply from asingle box, this being determined by the conditions olf practice. As indicated in said and il, the main suliiplycnrrent; carried by the conductor l, (shown in broken lines,) said` conductor being connected with the circuits S 0 and ILO ll. As itn'licated in these lgures, the main suplily-cnrrent does not normally pass through the switch-box, but is carried by a separate conductor l and switched into contact with the feeder connections and the sections oi. working conductor as the boxes are brought into operative ctmdition 'by the disturbziince of their balance, d ue to the meehanism operated by the pz'issage et' the car and. the consequent energizing ol' the automatic switches. `With this arrangement; the boxes E are separz'ttely supplied th rough eend uctors l ?,wl1ich are the same as described with reference to lfigs. ll, and t?, except that a much smaller current is normally assed througlrsaid conductors where the addit ional main supply-condnctor Il is used..

The contacts K are el metal and mayl he substantiziilly et the l'orm shown, having a shank or stem with an enlarged head. The stems 7.1 are enveloped by a sleeve et insulatingmaterial/J. (SecFig. They are then secured. in streng, preferably castiron, boxes which are adapted to `lit into casiugs N, which are permanently secured in the road* bed, anda water-tight joint is secured by the interpositien ot' a rubber gasket n. VWith this construction l am enabled at any time to remove the contacts l( and the part to which they are directly secured, namely, the box l, Vforinspectien or repair. 'lhe contacts are connected by wires 12 with the condue tors t) and lil. As described, the working' conductors comprise one side ol` the circuit, the return being th rough acont'luctor 23, which is suitably connected back to the .source ol' current.

The contacts l( may be elongated, as indi cated at li K?, liig. .l, where they arc shown in the it'orm ot T-rails embedded in insulat ing material and also contained in box t, which with this construction will be ot' clou gated rectztngular term.

Instead of operating the switch-actuating mechanism by mechanical means l may, as indicated in Fig. 7, use a magnet O, carried by the ca r, which magnet will operate in `pass4 ing to raise a magnetic armature l), contained in a suitable water-tight easing N, located at any convenient point between or adjacent IIO kIO

to the track and covered by a water-tight cap Z2 of non-magnetic material. The armature Pis connected to a lever p, which may be provided with a suitable counter-weight p and which carries an extension Q, which is preferably of conducting material and which 'Fits between the jaws of a circuit-breaker R, said jaws being insulated from each other and connected in the conductor 7 of the box E, so that when the armature P is drawn upward by the magnet O the part Q will be withdrawn from between the jaws ot' the circuit-breaker, thereby opening the conductor 7 and disturbing the balance previously eX- isting in the switch-box and throwing it in to operation, as described.

lVith the arrangement shown in Fi 2 and 8 I use the current-collecting device seen in Fig. l0, in which Q is a frame pivotally attached to the car by the spindle R', which is provided with a spring r, which will permit of the frame having a limited vertical movem ent. The contact device is shown as a wheel U, of any desired cond ucting material, which is pivotally mounted in a fork u., which iork is provided with a stem u', which is pivoted in the rear end of the frame Q' and provided with a spring u?. rlhe stem u is suitably insulated from the frame Q and is connected with the main conductor leading to the motor-circuit. The Contact device being pivoted considerably in rear of the support of the 'i' rame Q' will trail automatically in the path of the contacts even in passing around curves. I also provide the contact device with a cleaning attachment preceding it.

V is a rotating broom which rests upon the portion of the track occupied by the contact blocks or strips.

IV is a roller between the brush and the contact-wheel, and it is provided with a facing of rubber or other soft material resting upon the surface and which will squeeze the moisture and dirt from off the contact blocks or strips, leaving` them comparatively clean for contact with the roller U. A second wheel fw is pivotally mounted above the wheel Wv and in frictional contact therewith. Being rotated by its rictional contact with the said wheel lV, the wheel w acts as a frictional driver for the broom through suitable mechanical connections, as will appear. The axes of the wheels W and w are provided with sprocket-teeth c c, mechanically connected by a sprocket-chain c'. A second sprocketwheel (not shown) is provided on the axis of the roller WV, and a corresponding sprocket ft2 is provided upon the axis of the broom 5. These sprockets are also connected by a chain frs, so that the direction of the rotation of the broom will be opposite to that of the roller W and such as to throw the dirt diagonally forward and away from the contact-blocks as it passes over them.

While I have thus far described my system as applied to underground and surface-conto the overhead or trolley system, as indicated in Fig. 4, in which S is the car. S is a pole provided with bracket s, which carries the trolley-wire B, suspended from a suitable insulator. T is the trolley-pole. t is the trolleywheel, engaging the conductor B, and t' is a tappet or lug extending from the upper end of the trolley-pole. D is a rock-shaft,\\'hich is connected at its inner extremity with the circuitbreaking device d3 and at its outer end is turned down into the path of the t-appet t. l is the main supply-conductor, carried upon a suitable insulator attached to the pole and entering the box E, as previously described, where it divides into the two equal branches C and 7, reuniting at the point II' and passing by conductor 2 to the next box. In this boX the magnet F alone is shown, and this is provided with the duplex winding t 5, the winding 4 constituting the bridge between the conductors 6 and 7, through which current will be diverted to draw the armature f and thereby complete the conductor-feeding circuit when the balance between the conductors (3 and 7 is disturbed by the momentary opening of the circuit 7 by the rocking of the shaft D. The armature f having been attracted momentarily, the feeding connections 9 are established through the conductor 8, secondary coil 5, armature f, contact E", and conductor 9,which is connected with the section of the main working conductor or trolley-wire B, onto which the trolley-wheel is passing, and thereby of course cutting out the box-supplying section which is left by depriving the automatic circuit-making devices of the current necessary to sustain them in operative position.

The construction and arrangement hereinbefore described may be modified by persons skilled in the art in many ways without the exercise of invention in view of the foregoing.

Having described my invention, what I claim isl. A switch for electric circuits comprising a divided and balanced circuit, switching devices connected in a bridge across said balanced circuit, mechanical means for disturbing the balance ot' the balanced circuit, and connections controlled by the switching devices tor closing a supply-circuit whenever the balance of the balanced circuit is disturbed.

2. A switch for electric-railway systems comprising a divided and balanced circuit, switching devices connected in a bridge across said balanced circuit, mechanical means connected with the vehicle traveling along the railway for actuating and disturbing` the balanced circuit and energizing the switches in a bridge between them, and connections between a supply-conductor and working conductor of the railway, said connections including the switches and adapted to be opened or closed thereby.

3. In an electric-railway system, the combitaet electric railways, it is equally applicable nation with a sectional workin g conductor, of

IOO

IIO

c smoeld feeding connections tllcrei'or, :l nlniu supplyconductorllziving :i divided :lnd balanced pol'- iion, :lutonlntic switching devices bridging ille divided circuit ior connecting the nlnin supply und l'eeder connections, und nlenns l'or disturbing ille bnlnnce oi the divided cir cuit und thereby cllergiyiing the nutonlntic switches.

l. A switch for :ln electric-ruilwny svvstenl comprising :i divided und lln-lnllcei'i nlnin supply-circuit, llutonlniic switching devices collllected ill n bridge :lc-ross sztid bllllztnced circuit, und nlecllnl'lienl nlenns for closing ille supplycircuit oi ille conductor through sziid box by disturbing` ille ballnlnce oi. ille supplyeil'euii; passing therethrough.

5. In nn electrie-rnilwn)v systeln hnlving n sectional or disconnected working conductor, ny lllnill supply-circuit, .feeder connections for ille sectional or discolll'lecied working conductor und nutonniiic switching devices between ille nulin suppl)v und liecdcr conncetions, und nlcnns clllricd by the nr l`or lnenlel'ltztrily disturbing the electrical conditions of ille lutolnzttic switching devices und closing the circuit betweell the nlzlill supplynnd i'ecder elnlnections.

i3. fin :in electric rnilu'zrvhnvingzl sectional or disconnected nlllin conductor, nn nutollllltic switching device ior supl'llyillg one or lllcrc et sllid sections or discollllected ccnductors, und coll'lprising :t divided und bnl nnced circuit )ussing through sztid box, nuiolnutic switching devices aldziptcd to connect ille nluin supply-circuit with the conductor to be supplied, and llutclnzttic Yinea-ns ior energizing ille switching devices by distllrbillg ille bulnnce of ille divided switchuci uni illg cond uciior.

T. rlile cenlbillniion ill nl electric railway having :lv sectional or divided conductor, oi'zt nniin supply-circuit, nutoinntic switching devices, ieeder connections to the conductor to be supplied, :i divided und balanced circuit pussing through two or nlorc oi the switchboxes of the rnilwzlly, :lutonlntic ineens opernted by the passage oi` n enr to disturb the bnlunce of ille divided switch-box circuit, whereby :t portion oli' the current Vtraversing ille sinne is shunted through the switching devices, und ille sinne beconlc energized to close the supply-circuit upon the feeder connections, n` resistance in the cnr-circuit and n switch arranged to connect either the lnotor or the switch with the working circuit.

S. The combination in nn electric-railway system of :ln automatic switching device, :feeder connections to the conductor to be supplied, zl divided und bztlzulced circuit between the sides by which the nuionlnltic switching devices aireconnected, nlechlllnicnl nlezins carried b v the cnr ior disturbing tile bfllnlnce und energizing the switches, :l ril-- sisinnce upon ille enr und switch ill the work-- ing circuit on the cnr ldnlptel'l to connect wit ll either the nlotor or the resisttllnfe, whereby n constant ilow ol current is lllnintzllined upon the active working conductor until ille czlr passes to :lnother section.

il. it sectional trnck--contlct comprising n succession oi succeeding rnils sepnlzlted :li: their ends by insulating nlntelilll, :l nleinllic` box into wllich eflc'll oll ille suceeeffling railsI :is secured by solid ,illsulniing nlzlterinl surroundingl said rails, but lenving their upper sides exposed, und n` st'zitii'lnurl,r suljlllort l'ol' said conmilling-llenosironl which support ille said boxes are lllovllble.

lll. The colnbilnltion wiill nu electriwlulilwn) cnr, olf :t rotntnbluvnlounted ll'zliling i'rnnlc, n contzlct device hinged und pivoted :lt the relu' plut et szlid ii'runle, so that it will trnil behind the pivoinl conlleetion, lt contact-cleaning device in ndvnnce oi szlid coninct., :t i'otninbly-nloinlted broonl ill :ldvlllnce ol seid contnct-clenning device, n. ifrietionnl driving :lppnrntus enguging 'the collinetclennillg device, and nleellnlliculconnections between ille coniilct*cleaning device, snid friction-driver, und the nxis ot` ille broonl.

il. 'l`lle con'lbinntion with n enr, ot' lt snitnlb'le support pivotnll)v connected therewith nt its lront end, :t conizlct device I 'livotzllllv attached to the reztr end tllel'eol', n contact cleaning roller, olf the contzlebclenning roller :t revolving brooln ill advance thereof, und nlechnnicnl connections between the roller nud. the brooln lor rotatingI the sinne.

l2. An nutonlnltic swii'cll`box colnprisinglt circuit passing therethrough unddivided into equal bfllnnced sides, :t circuitbrezllcer included in one side oit' snid. circuit und eolll prising al. pnir oli' oppositelv-:icting spl-ingnrlns provided with contnciis oi sillliizlr nulterinl, :t stntiolutrlvY block oli' contacting nlntcl-inl against which seid contacts norlllnlliv rest to eonlpletc the circuit, und. :l nlechnnically-i'lctinlied zirlll extending betweell sutil contzlcts and adapted when ille sinne is nloved to push one or the other ol the contactsnwzrvv i'roni the stationair.)Y block :nld tllcre'lrv open the circuit.

ln testinlonv whereof l hereto ultix nly signature in presence oi' two witnesses.

JOHN l. .lvlilSXi/iiNDlli).

Ysitllesscs:

STEPHEN J'ivvns, iiglnnv Y. Divvls.

IlO 

